Navigating a higher education institution’s unique combination of constraints and opportunities to find integrated strategies that are agile, cost-effective, and resilient is no easy feat. It requires teams that include experts from education and research, architecture and engineering, real estate and facilities, information technology, human resources, and finance. Capitalizing on these synergies, the higher education experts at JLL and SmithGroup's Higher Education practice partnered to share insights and to develop a range of strategies that are helping campus leaders prepare for a safe return to campus. As we synthesized information gained from clients across the nation, the value of place was further reinforced despite the challenges of the current health crisis.
The campus provides a unique value through intellectual immersion, cross pollination of ideas, and alignment of social and academic modes. Though higher education will continue to evolve, demand for quality campus environments remains an institutional differentiator because of the connection to enhanced student outcomes.